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In recent years, the Navy has introduced several new highly technical and effective combat weapons systems. However, these weapons systems did not solve the basic combat command problems that confront our Navy. In combat, a fleet continues to be involved in close-range offense and defense. During close-range combat, the shipboard combat information center (CIC) is involved in complex tactical situations. These situations require intelligent and highly important decisions. Each decision has to be made in a short period of time. You will find the speed at which these combat situations must be solved is inconceivable to someone thinking in terms of typical CIC operations of the recent past. Therefore, the NTDS was developed by the U.S. Navy as a command tool for commanders in tactical combat situations. Objectives The naval tactical data system (NTDS) is based on the interaction of humans and machines. The NTDS helps coordinate fleet air defense, antisubmarine warfare, and surface defense operations. Through automation, the NTDS provides commanders with a broad picture of the current tactical situation. It also assists them in directing their operations in time to intercept and destroy all potential enemy threats. The use of digital computers and digital data processing techniques reduces reaction time and increases force effectiveness. NTDS uses a variety of equipment. This equipment includes transmitters, receivers, cryptographic equipment, high-speed digital computers, magnetic tapes, disks, and a variety of displays. Figure 5-10 shows the NTDS equipment grouping and how it interfaces with the weapons and sensor systems of a ship. Figure 5-11 shows the NTDS system inputs and outputs. As you can see, large amounts and various types of information are provided to or taken from the NTDS. Now that you have seen the types of information associated with the NTDS, let's look at how this information is transmitted and used. Figure 5-10. - NTDS equipment grouping.
Figure 5-11. - NTDS system inputs/outputs.
NTDS Data Transmission Subsystems NTDS uses three separate data transmission links to maintain tactical data communications between tactical units. Figure 5-12 illustrates these links. Each link is able to transfer data rapidly to other ships, aircraft, and shore facilities without the delay of human interface (link 14 receive is an exception to this). The data processing subsystem formats the messages for each of the data links. These messages are based on shipboard inputs (from displays, sensors, and other data links). Figure 5-12. - NTDS communications links.
The automatic data communications links provide the operational commander with a high-speed, accurate mode of tactical communications. Link 11 provides high-speed, computer-to-computer transfer of tactical information, command orders, and unit status to all tactical data systems. View A shows you this configuration. The type of tactical information currently transferred is surface, subsurface, air, and EW track information. Data is provided on friendly, hostile, and unknown identity tracks. This broadcast originates through console button actions by the console operators. Link 14 provides a means of transmitting track information to those units not capable of participating in the link 11 network. View B shows this network. This is a one-way broadcast of information. Link 4A permits the computer to take control of the autopilot in an equipped aircraft. Also this link can control a plane under other situations. It may control a flight out to a strike area and return it to base without the need for pilot action. The pilot also has the option of overriding the link. The pilot may use the visual display to aid in understanding the intercept controller, or to totally ignore the link 4A transmission. View C shows this link used in conjunction with the automatic carrier landing system (ACLS). Figure 5-13 is a drawing of an intersystem communications employment diagram. It shows the overall possibilities and flexibility of the NTDS. The new terms shown are defined below: Figure 5-13. - Intersystem communications employment.
MTDS-Marine tactical data system AFDS-Amphibious flagship data system ATDS-Airborne tactical data system ASWTDS-Antisubmarine warfare tactical data system Now that we've looked at a complex and stationary system, let's study some fundamental portable equipment. Q.7 What is the primary advantage of NTDS over conventional systems? |
 
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